Two-fer Fun

Wednesday was a loooonng day. It took us over 8 hours to drive from Pt Arena to our hotel in Monterey. 

We had decided not to go back the way we came - the road north from Petaluma to Pt Arena was not one we wanted to repeat - so we drove an hour north to Ft. Bragg, then took Hwy 20 to Willits and the 101 freeway. It added 2 hours to the drive but it was safer and less nerve-wracking. 

Today’s first stop was the Monterey Bay Aquarium where we were very surprised to find Disneyland-style entrance lines. 

Who knew it would be so busy on a Thursday in April??

Jackie on the half shell 

The crowd was pretty low key and the girls were able to get close to most of the exhibits they wanted to see. 

Our original plan was to drive home after that, but Pop was tired from previous day’s drive,

Koi pond at our hotel. Photo by Jaclyn 

and there was only one thing left on our wish-to-see list,

so we stopped for the night in Paso Robles

Almost full dark

and took the girls to the Sensorio light show. 

In the on-and-off rain. With wind-chill temp about 38°. Yep, we’re crazy.

Before the lights came on 

It was as beautiful as we remembered 

but the girls were less than impressed,

Pop and Leo’s favorite lights

probably because it was so cold and damp, 

Jac’s favorite

and we had to stand around waiting

My favorite

for over an hour until it was fully dark. 

So we offered to bring them back in the summer when it’s 110° 

Looking toward the entrance

and stays light out until after 9 pm.

From the entrance looking back across the fields

I think they’re going to pass on that… 😂

Tomorrow we head for home, for realz. The plan is to drop the girls with their parents and then sleep for two full days.

More aquarium pics:

Jac took these photos